LSU AD says Les Miles 'will continue to be our football coach'

LSU football coach Les Miles is not going anywhere, but to a bowl game next month.

LSU President F. King Alexander told Miles after the Tigers defeated Texas A&M 19-7 Saturday night that he would remain coach. Then LSU athletic director Joe Alleva told Miles the same and took the microphone at a postgame news conference.

“Obviously, there has been a lot of speculation about our football coach and about our football program,” began Alleva, who reportedly was preparing to fire Miles for the past few weeks amid a three-game losing streak.

Miles gets win in LSU home finale, 19-7 over Texas A&M

“I want to make it very clear that Les Miles is our football coach and will continue to be our football coach. We are committed together to working together and competing at the highest level. And I’m very pleased that Coach Miles is our coach. We’re going to go forward and win championships here at LSU.”

Miles, whose team broke a three-game losing streak to finish the regular season at 8-3 overall and 5-3 in the Southeastern Conference, followed Alleva on the podium.

“I agree with Joe,” Miles said and later added that he would consider staff changes. “This team should be competing for championships. It’s not enough to win occasionally. We should win all the time.”

Miles was asked when he knew he would definitely be staying on as coach.

LSU Tigers carry Les Miles off the field after winning last home game of the season

“I would say it was after the game,” Miles said as laughter broke out among a throng for reporters who crowded into the press conference room in Tiger Stadium.

“King Alexander came up and said, ‘I want you to be our coach,’ ” Miles said. “And Joe Alleva followed that up. And I said, ‘Magnificent.’ ”

Alexander and Alleva heard LSU fans chant, “Keep Les Miles,” as the Tigers put the game away late with a touchdown.

Then players carried Miles off the field. Miles also got a loud roar before the game while a video of Alleva was booed.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal wants Les Miles to stay as LSU coach

There were also several signs in support of Miles and asking for the firing of Alleva.

“Keep the Hat. Fire the Rat,” read one sign.

“I want you to know something, I love coaching football,” Miles said. “It was a nice night. Victory is nice, especially three weeks late. It’s nice to be the head coach at LSU. It’s a joy. It’s nice to be told that the job you’ve been doing, you still can do it. I like that.”

Glenn Guilbeau covers LSU athletics for Gannett Louisiana.